Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene Program at North Central Michigan College

CODA Site Visit — Information on Submitting Third-Party Comments — Click for More Information

IMPORTANT NOTE: North Central Michigan College's planned Dental Hygiene program is currently awaiting accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and has not yet been granted initial accreditation. The college cannot accept applications into the planned Dental Hygiene program until initial accreditation is granted.

Build a career in oral health with hands-on training and a clear pathway to licensure. The Dental Hygiene Associate of Applied Science (AAS) prepares you to support patients through preventive care, clinical services, and education — skills that translate into a respected profession with strong earning potential.

Dental Hygiene — Associate of Applied Science:

North Central’s Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene is designed to prepare graduates for professional practice. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the ADEX clinical examination.

Program Structure:

North Central’s Dental Hygiene AAS program is completed over three years and includes two phases:

  • Year 1: Complete Preprogram Requirements
    In your first year, you’ll take general education and foundational science courses, along with two introductory dental hygiene courses. These courses prepare you to apply for admission into the clinical phase of the program.

  • Years 2—3: Professional Dental Hygiene Training

    Upon acceptance into the program, you will complete the final two years of advanced dental hygiene coursework and hands-on clinical experience. This includes training in:

    • Patient care and preventive treatment
    • Radiography and oral imaging
    • Periodontics and oral pathology
    • Community dental health
    • Clinical practice across multiple semesters
Rico Breznau

Questions? I can help!

Rico Breznau
Dental Hygiene Program Director
rbreznau@ncmich.edu
231-348-6748

Explore the proposed dental hygiene clinic. Take a virtual tour of North Central Michigan College’s proposed dental hygiene facility. This video has no audio and illustrates a proposed design; final details may change.

CODA Accreditation Site Visit

North Central Michigan College Dental Hygiene Program will undergo an initial CODA Accreditation Site Visit on February 4-5, 2027. To remain compliant with CODA policy, the program invites third-party comments.  All submissions must be received by CODA on or before the DEADLINE, December 4, 2026 (60 days prior to site visit).

See below for details:

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) reviews third party comments and complaints to ensure sustained quality and continuous improvement of dental and dental-related education programs.

A complaint is defined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation as one alleging that a Commission-accredited educational program, a program which has an application for initial accreditation pending, or the Commission may not be in substantial compliance with Commission standards or required accreditation procedures.

Submitting Third Party Comment/Complaint Guidelines:

CODA invites comments and/or complaints from faculty, students, administrators, dental organizations, patients, and the public.

Verbal comments/complaints will not be accepted; submitters are asked to file in writing. Comments/complaints received outside the 60-day reporting window will be added to the program’s file for review at the next accreditation site visit.

All comments must:

  • Pertain only to the standards relating to the Dental Hygiene program, or policies, or procedures relevant to the program
  • Provide supporting rationale and/or documentation

Submissions may:

  • Be signed or unsigned; all identifying information will be removed before being shared with the program.

Comments/complaints should not be sent via U.S. Postal Service. Contact CODA staff for submission guidelines.
A copy of the accreditation standards and CODA’s policy on submitting comments/complaints can be obtained by contacting:

Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
Phone: 1-800-232-6108, ext. 2695
Email: CODAdentalhygiene@ada.org

Dental Hygiene Program Information

The three-year, cohort-style program will accept 15 students per cohort, with one cohort starting each fall. The program runs full time and includes five consecutive semesters of dental hygiene coursework following two semesters of pre-program requirements.

NOTE: North Central's dental hygiene program includes a competitive application process. Simply meeting the minimum requirements and applying to the program does not guarantee admission.

SEE THE DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENT HANDBOOK.

Pre-Program Required Courses

  • CEM 101 Fundamentals in Chemicals
  • DHY 102 Dental Ethics, Law, and Safety
  • ENG 111 English Composition
  • COM 170 Interpersonal Communication
  • PSY 161 Introduction to Psychology
  • BIO 235 General Anatomy and Physiology I
  • DHY 103 Dental Anatomy
  • SOC 171 Introduction to Sociology
  • HE 200 Nutrition
  • BIO 226 Microbiology
  • BIO 236 General Anatomy and Physiology II

How to Apply

To be considered for admission to the North Central's dental hygiene program, complete the following steps:

1. Meet with an academic advisor.

Schedule an appointment with an academic advisor to discuss the dental hygiene program, develop your academic plan, and designate Dental Hygiene as your intended field of study.

2. Complete your pre-program required coursework.

Work with your advisor to complete all required pre-program courses before applying to the program.

3. Take the HESI A2 Admission Assessment.

All applicants must complete the HESI A2 Admission Assessment Test as part of the application process.

Students preparing for the HESI A2 Admission Assessment may find the official Admission Assessment Exam Review, 6th Edition from Elsevier to be a helpful study resource. It is available for purchase in both eBook and print formats.

4. Complete your required observation hours.

Submit documentation of at least 10 hours of observation with a practicing dental hygienist.

  • Observation hours may be completed independently or as part of DHY 102.
  • If you complete your observation hours before enrolling in DHY 102, additional observation hours may still be required as part of the course.

5. Submit your application.

North Central's Dental Hygiene program is currently awaiting accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and cannot yet accept applications to the planned program. Pending receipt of initial CODA accreditation, the anticipated application period for the first cohort is expected to close on April 15, 2028.

Selection of the first cohort will not occur until all of the following requirements have been met:

  • Initial CODA accreditation has been granted;
  • Applicants have completed all required pre-program required courses and final grades have been posted; AND
  • Applicants have completed the HESI A2 entrance examination.

Application Review and Notification

Applications are reviewed in May, and admission decisions are mailed by June 1.

Program Requirements & Suggested Course Sequences

Take the next step today!

Questions about which program will help you meet your career goals? Make an appointment with a North Central advisor to get started today! Call 231-348-6605.

Let's get started!

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